Reserve team boss Ricky Duncan, and maybe about to be promoted after the shock events of Monday, will have a few members of the first team squad available; Osei Sankofa, Johnny Herd, Francis Laurent and Scott Spencer could all start.
Midfielder Anthony Grant certainly will, as the plan is to play him for an hour to continue his rehabilitation from injury that will hopefully see him play against Exeter City on Saturday wher Macca and Christophe are both out.
Due to the fact we might not have acentral midfield at the weekend, last week's trailist Grant Kerr gets a very rare second chance.
Striker Harry Crawford has been scoring freely for the youth team was promoted to the subs bench at Hartlepool and it's good to see his progress through the ranks.
Chris Calver will be warming the bench after his return from Braintree town on loan.
Somehow getting hammered every week isn't showing these guys in the best possible light, and, sadly, this afternoon will probably be more of the same. Five or six anyone?
Southend United: Jack, Osifuwa, Sankofa, Whittaker, Herd, Okai, Kerr, Grant, Milner, Spencer, Crawford.
Subs: Bentley, Dennis, Hazell, Calver.